Horn weight



sept. 11, 1923. 1,467,276@

l W. C. TAG ERT HORN WEIGHT Filed Jan. 25. l925f l lwwzntoz Wm.' aC. Thy .mi

Patented Sept. II, i923.

WILLIAM C. TAGERT, QF ASPEN, COLORADO.

HORN WEIGHT.

Applcatien filed January 23, 1923.

To all 'Lo/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. TAGnn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horn lVeights; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference'marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to horn weights of the type employed by cattle breeders for the purpose of training the horns of young cattle.

Breeders of pure bred or fancy stock have found that it oftentimes happens that the looks of an otherwise perfect animal is marred by the h'orns which are nnsymmetrical.

It has been proven by experiment that the shape of the horns can be controlled during their growing period to such an eX- tent that if they have a natural inclination to grow unsymmetrically, they can be made to grow in a symmetrical manner. 'Where one horn shows -a tendency to grow upwardly at a greater angle than the other, a weight is applied to the end of the horn and the eflect of this is to cause it gradually to assume a different angle. It oftentimes happens that the breeder desires the horns to assume a downward curve and in such cases, weights are applied to each of the horns.

I have found that the growth of the horns cannot be satisfactorily controlled by means of ringlike weights secured to the ends of the horns, as it frequently occurs that the horn must be subjected to a twistingaction as well as to a downwardly directed bending force.

I have also found that to procure the desired effect, by means of annular weights clamped to the ends of the. horns, requires a rather heavy weight which makes it clumsy in appearance and besides this, the means usually employed in securing the weight to the horn usually mars the latter to a considerable extent.

It is the object of this invention to produce an improved horn weight that can be readily attached to and removed from the horn without marring the latter, and which Serial No. 614,390.

shall also be so designed that it will produce a torsional strain as well as a bending strain and therefore can be employed for correcting many defects that cannot be corrected by a simple weight.

Itis a further object of this invention to construct the weights in such a manner that they may be loaded with shot so as to give them the weight which is best suited for the particular case.

I attain the above objects by means of a i construction which I shall now describe in detail, reference being had for the purpose to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l shows my improved weights in place on the horns of a young` animal.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved horn weight with parts thereof broken away to show the hollow construction.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33, Fig. 2; and

Fig. d is a modification showing a simplified form.

The same reference numerals will be employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1 my improved weights 5 are shown in place on the horns G of a cow. The weight consists of a hollow member of brass or other suitable material, having a curved tubular portion 7 at the end of which there is a hollow spherical portion 8 which serves as an ornament and also as a means to contain shot 9, by means of which the weight may be regulated. For the purpose of securing the weight to the horn, the large end thereof is provided with two spaced clamping members IO, which may be integral with the part 7. The ends of the clamping members are bent outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and a bolt 1l passed through holes therein. The inner surface of members 10 have projections l2 which are adapted to sink into the surface of the horn when the clamps are tightened and serve to hold the weight from sliding off. In addition to the clamping means, the part 7 is provided with several screw holes 13 for the reception of screws which may, at times, be employed to assist the clamping means to hold the weight in place.

In Fig. 4t I have shown a weight identical with that in Fig. 2, except that the clamping members 10 have been omitted and the weight is held in place solely by screws passing through holes 14. Since the part 7 is curved, as shown, it is evident that if a simple downward bending moment is dew sired, the weight is applied to the horn in such a manner that the plane of the curved axis is vertical. It a turning moment is also desired, the weight must be applied so that the plane of the curved axis is horizontal. The degree of turning moment may be controlled by varying the angular relation oi the weight, as the turning moment will be greatest with the plane of the curved axis horizontal and a minimum when the plane is vertical.

Shot 9 is placed in the spherical end 8 so as to obtain the desired weight. Where one horn required a heavier weight than the other, this is accomplished by means of the shot 9 in the manner apparent.

Since the main part of the mass of the weight is in the spherical end and since it is applied to the end of the horn, it acts as a cantilever and a much greater bending` moment is obtained with a `given weight of material than would be the case if the weight was a ring secured near the end of the horn.

F rom the above, it will be apparent that I have produced a horn weight that is of simple construction, which can be quickly applied to and vremoved from the horn and which is so designed that it will produce a turning moment as well as a bending moment.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An article of manufacture comprisinof a tubular body member having its centra axis curved; a hollow enlarged chamber at one end thereof; and means at the other end for securing the same to the end of a horn.

2. A horn weight consisting' of a curved tapering tubular member having a hollow spherical chamber at the smaller end-thereof, the larger end being provided with means to secure the weight to the end of a horn.

3.. A horn weightI consisting of a curved tapering tubular member having a hollow 'spherical chamber' at the smaller end thereof, the larger end being provided with means to secure the weight to the end of a horn, said means comprisinga` pair .of clamping lingers secured to the tubular member; means 'for drawing they clamping fingers together and projections on the inner surfaces of said fingers.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

WILLIAM C. 'IlAGrERT 

